Verizon finally rolls out Android 4.2.2 to Galaxy Nexus users

Update will begin to deploy to users today in phases.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus users will finally receive their long-awaited Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update. Verizon Wireless has officially announced that it will roll out the update starting today.

The Android update will include new camera features like Photosphere as well as additional filters and photo editing tools. It will also feature the new Gesture keyboard that now comes standard with the software, plus the ability to place widgets on the lock screen and utilize the Daydream screensaver mode.

Although the update goes live today, it will be pushed out in phases. If you haven't received your update yet, hold tight.

Too late. I already switched to CyanogenMod, and am never looking back. My next phone will also be a non-Verizon phone. Verizon, you lost yourselves a customer with this foot-dragging. I hope you're happy.

Too late. I already switched to CyanogenMod, and am never looking back. My next phone will also be a non-Verizon phone. Verizon, you lost yourselves a customer with this foot-dragging. I hope you're happy.

Ditto. I'm done with them in October. Going Straight Talk or another AT&T virtual provider.

Still waiting for updates from 4.1.1 for Galaxy Nexus here in Sweden (where most Galaxy Nexuses sold are nerfed due to Samsung being in charge of rolling out updates -> nothing much is happening...). So be happy Verizon users, you're better off than we are!

Still waiting for updates from 4.1.1 for Galaxy Nexus here in Sweden (where most Galaxy Nexuses sold are nerfed due to Samsung being in charge of rolling out updates -> nothing much is happening...). So be happy Verizon users, you're better off than we are!

You're mistaken. It's a Nexus, hence the OEM is powerless. Samsung has no authority over the updates for any Galaxy Nexus phones. Your carrier is the one blocking you, either that or you haven't hit the update button. If your carrier says otherwise, they're lying.

Bleh. I have a galaxy nexus and its a great phone, but Verizon is absolutely ridiculous. I constantly deal with extra charges that are put on by mistake and take weeks to be reversed after my wife and I call about it several times. Just this last month we were over charged $120. This is with unlimited call/text and 6gb of data. I used 3.4gb for the month, my wife used under 1. When I called the lady acted like it was my fault and gave me tips on how to avoid that mistake in the future. Unbelievable. I just don't feel like paying over $200 every month just to have a phone with data and get hounded with these frustrating errors all the time. WHY CAN'T I LET GO OF 4GGGGG.

Still waiting for updates from 4.1.1 for Galaxy Nexus here in Sweden (where most Galaxy Nexuses sold are nerfed due to Samsung being in charge of rolling out updates -> nothing much is happening...). So be happy Verizon users, you're better off than we are!

You're mistaken. It's a Nexus, hence the OEM is powerless. Samsung has no authority over the updates for any Galaxy Nexus phones. Your carrier is the one blocking you, either that or you haven't hit the update button. If your carrier says otherwise, they're lying.

I don't believe that's true. Here in Canada, Samsung controls all updates for the Galaxy Nexus, which is why they roll out for all carriers at roughly the same time. Of course, that's with the default firmware. If you root and switch to the standard international firmware, you'll get your updates from Google, who are much quicker at rolling them out.

Still waiting for updates from 4.1.1 for Galaxy Nexus here in Sweden (where most Galaxy Nexuses sold are nerfed due to Samsung being in charge of rolling out updates -> nothing much is happening...). So be happy Verizon users, you're better off than we are!

You're mistaken. It's a Nexus, hence the OEM is powerless. Samsung has no authority over the updates for any Galaxy Nexus phones. Your carrier is the one blocking you, either that or you haven't hit the update button. If your carrier says otherwise, they're lying.

I don't believe that's true. Here in Canada, Samsung controls all updates for the Galaxy Nexus, which is why they roll out for all carriers at roughly the same time. Of course, that's with the default firmware. If you root and switch to the standard international firmware, you'll get your updates from Google, who are much quicker at rolling them out.

Source: former Canadian Galaxy Nexus owner

I have a Galaxy Nexus here in Canada and I get all my updates as soon as Google releases them. I bought it from a Guy on Kijiji (similar to Craigslist), but I am guessing mine is the international version bought directly from Google.

Still waiting for updates from 4.1.1 for Galaxy Nexus here in Sweden (where most Galaxy Nexuses sold are nerfed due to Samsung being in charge of rolling out updates -> nothing much is happening...). So be happy Verizon users, you're better off than we are!

You're mistaken. It's a Nexus, hence the OEM is powerless. Samsung has no authority over the updates for any Galaxy Nexus phones. Your carrier is the one blocking you, either that or you haven't hit the update button. If your carrier says otherwise, they're lying.

I'm sorry but you are 100% wrong. For Galaxy Nexus yakyuxw (there's yakyuxw,yakyu, takyu at least, might be more variations), all updates are pushed solely by Samsung when they are done and when google has signed off on it. This far Samsung has not pushed any updates above 4.1.1 for yakyuxw (which is what normally you get when buying a Galaxy Nexus in Sweden).

So no, Nexus does not guarantee Google-provided updates; both carriers (like Verizon) or phone manufacturers (like Samsung) can control e upgrades for some of the models.

Every time I read about how you should buy a Nexus to be guaranteed hassle-free updates directly from Google I look at my phone and sigh :-/

Every article I read about this makes me wish I lived somewhere that has good non-Verizon coverage. I guess I'll settle for an easily-rooted phone. That can support Android 4.2. And has an SD card slot. Okay, "settle" may be the wrong term.

Every article I read about this makes me wish I lived somewhere that has good non-Verizon coverage. I guess I'll settle for an easily-rooted phone. That can support Android 4.2. And has an SD card slot. Okay, "settle" may be the wrong term.

You know of one? I think the Verizon Gnex was the last phone they shipped with an easily unlockable bootloader.

Every article I read about this makes me wish I lived somewhere that has good non-Verizon coverage. I guess I'll settle for an easily-rooted phone. That can support Android 4.2. And has an SD card slot. Okay, "settle" may be the wrong term.

You know of one? I think the Verizon Gnex was the last phone they shipped with an easily unlockable bootloader.

The Galaxy S3's bootloader could be unlocked without great difficulty, though it was shipped locked.

I'm surprised that so many people have a Galaxy Nexus and use the stock OS. One of the best parts is the ease of rooting and the availability of custom ROMs. It's not just about keeping your phone up to date, most of the custom ROMs improve the functionality (e.g. Paranoid Android) or design (e.g. MIUI) of the OS.

Sprint is terrible out here, T-Mobile doesn't have the best coverage, and AT&T had a lot of issues when I had them, so I'm probably going to stick with Verizon for a while. Anyone know if the Nexus 4 and possibly future Nexus phones will be coming to Verizon?

Too late. I already switched to CyanogenMod, and am never looking back. My next phone will also be a non-Verizon phone. Verizon, you lost yourselves a customer with this foot-dragging. I hope you're happy.

Ditto. I'm done with them in October. Going Straight Talk or another AT&T virtual provider.

I'm using ST on my gnex right now, and it's been great -- but you can't get new ATT sims from straight talk anymore. They lost their agreement with AT&T.

My recommendation: go with the T-mobile 5GB $30/mo prepaid plan if you are in a sufficiently covered metro area. One of my students grabbed a Nexus 4 and uses that as his plan and loves it (He doesn't even know his phone #, he uses google voice + grooveip for all calls on HSPA+ or wifi).

Welcome to 4.2.2, Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners! I've been running this on my aging I9100 for a few months now via Cyanogenmod. If you're fed up with Verizon and their foot-dragging, take 10-15 minutes to learn how to root and flash your phone with a custom ROM. Don't be scared, it's literally idiot-proof. And you'll actually get even more features and useful enhancements than you would normally get with Google's stock ROM.

Come on, we're all techies here, right? This is what we do. Otherwise you wouldn't be here.

Waiting for the next Nexus phone to hit and then goodbye Verizon! Hello AT&T!

I've always loved Verizon's coverage, but I just can't get over the really bad experiences I've had with the speed of which they roll out updates (i.e. My HTC Thunderbolt experience...2 years to update to Ice Cream Sandwich? HAH)

I'm surprised that so many people have a Galaxy Nexus and use the stock OS. One of the best parts is the ease of rooting and the availability of custom ROMs. It's not just about keeping your phone up to date, most of the custom ROMs improve the functionality (e.g. Paranoid Android) or design (e.g. MIUI) of the OS.

To each his own. To me, the main point of owning a Nexus is exactly so I don't have to root my phone and fuck around with custom ROMs to stay up to date.

I submitted a complaint through the FCC a couple of weeks ago regarding VZW's late updates for the Nexus. I was contacted by VZW Corporate almost immediately regarding the complaint, and they promised it would be released soon; evidently that's the only way to light a fire under their ass. I'd like to think I had something to do with getting 4.2.2 released. No need to thank me, just doing my job, people.

Anyone know if the Nexus 4 and possibly future Nexus phones will be coming to Verizon?

Doubtful. If memory serves, the Nexus 4 was built without LTE to avoid carrier lock-in. Verizon is only accepting new handsets with LTE.

Also, the amount of bad press Google got from the tech community, thanks to Verizon's overall handling of the CDMA Nexus, has to leave Google wary of trying again.

I realize Verizon is probably has a unique version of LTE, but aside from being a smaller market, is there anything that would prevent Google from selling an unlocked phone with the proper LTE radio? Would or could Verizon legally refuse to activate or allow unlocked LTE phones on their network?

Too late. I already switched to CyanogenMod, and am never looking back. My next phone will also be a non-Verizon phone. Verizon, you lost yourselves a customer with this foot-dragging. I hope you're happy.

I too switched to Cyanogenmod on my Verizon Galaxy Nexus, and have never been happier. But...I just can't kick my Verizon 4G coverage and speed addiction. Not sure what I'm going to do for my next upgrade in November, since Nexus phones are never going to have 4G, at least that's what Google is currently saying - and there's no way I'm going back to 3G, and no way I'm going to settle for a manufacturer skin.

Probably get a Galaxy S3 or S4 and put Cyanogenmod on it...although I hate the fact that Samsung refuses to implement the new software buttons and is keeping around the Menu button...

Welcome to 4.2.2, Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners! I've been running this on my aging I9100 for a few months now via Cyanogenmod. If you're fed up with Verizon and their foot-dragging, take 10-15 minutes to learn how to root and flash your phone with a custom ROM. Don't be scared, it's literally idiot-proof. And you'll actually get even more features and useful enhancements than you would normally get with Google's stock ROM.

Come on, we're all techies here, right? This is what we do. Otherwise you wouldn't be here.

I'm going to call BS on your claim (and the claim of lots of others) that flashing a custom ROM is idiot-proof. I'm the techiest guy I know, I'm the guy all my friends come to for computer and smartphone questions, I've done computer support professionally, have used computers since the 5th grade (I'm 40 now), and have worked in IT for over 15 years. But I still found it highly confusing and went around in circles on a bunch of tech sites before figuring out how to install Cyanogenmod on my Nexus.

It's not just a couple step process. You have to first install software (drivers) on your Windows computer, make sure that driver is working and communicating with the phone, follow a very specific series of steps, figure out which ROM works with your particular carrier version of the phone, figure out which ROM has the features and performance you want (and everyone has their own opinion about which is best), back up your data, reinstall apps, etc.

Sure, once I did it once, it was cake the second time. And once I knew exactly where to look, you can find software tools that will run you through all the steps. But those tools are not available for every model, and they're not very easy to find. Do a Google search for your phone model and "custom ROM" and you'll get a million results, half of them the exact same articles posted on different sites and forums.

I would never recommend installing a custom ROM to any but my most techie friends. But is it worth all the trouble? Hell yes! It's just not as easy as some make it out to be.

Anyone know if the Nexus 4 and possibly future Nexus phones will be coming to Verizon?

Doubtful. If memory serves, the Nexus 4 was built without LTE to avoid carrier lock-in. Verizon is only accepting new handsets with LTE.

Also, the amount of bad press Google got from the tech community, thanks to Verizon's overall handling of the CDMA Nexus, has to leave Google wary of trying again.

I realize Verizon is probably has a unique version of LTE, but aside from being a smaller market, is there anything that would prevent Google from selling an unlocked phone with the proper LTE radio? Would or could Verizon legally refuse to activate or allow unlocked LTE phones on their network?

No, part of the requirements for the spectrum auction that Verizon got its LTE spectrum from was that they were required to provide open access. The problem at the moment is that the LTE network is data only. If you want voice, you still need a CDMA/3g radio. When Verizon implements Voice over LTE, you'll be able to.

Anyone know if the Nexus 4 and possibly future Nexus phones will be coming to Verizon?

Doubtful. If memory serves, the Nexus 4 was built without LTE to avoid carrier lock-in. Verizon is only accepting new handsets with LTE.

Also, the amount of bad press Google got from the tech community, thanks to Verizon's overall handling of the CDMA Nexus, has to leave Google wary of trying again.

I realize Verizon is probably has a unique version of LTE, but aside from being a smaller market, is there anything that would prevent Google from selling an unlocked phone with the proper LTE radio? Would or could Verizon legally refuse to activate or allow unlocked LTE phones on their network?

No, part of the requirements for the spectrum auction that Verizon got its LTE spectrum from was that they were required to provide open access. The problem at the moment is that the LTE network is data only. If you want voice, you still need a CDMA/3g radio. When Verizon implements Voice over LTE, you'll be able to.

The other problem is the limited global coverage of CDMA & LTE. GSM is available nearly everywhere, in some form. Making the Nexus 4 an international GSM phone was probably the most logical choice.

Just look at the number of hardware versions of the iPhone 5, so that it can support LTE in different international markets. I don't imagine Google wanting to build so many versions of the Nexus 4.

A little too late verizon. The Gnex gave me hope for dealing with Verizons slow ass updates. But since that never panned out, I left for a Nexus 4, with similar coverage at half the cost and timely updates. Sigh

Welcome to 4.2.2, Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners! I've been running this on my aging I9100 for a few months now via Cyanogenmod. If you're fed up with Verizon and their foot-dragging, take 10-15 minutes to learn how to root and flash your phone with a custom ROM. Don't be scared, it's literally idiot-proof. And you'll actually get even more features and useful enhancements than you would normally get with Google's stock ROM.

Come on, we're all techies here, right? This is what we do. Otherwise you wouldn't be here.

I'm going to call BS on your claim (and the claim of lots of others) that flashing a custom ROM is idiot-proof. I'm the techiest guy I know, I'm the guy all my friends come to for computer and smartphone questions, I've done computer support professionally, have used computers since the 5th grade (I'm 40 now), and have worked in IT for over 15 years. But I still found it highly confusing and went around in circles on a bunch of tech sites before figuring out how to install Cyanogenmod on my Nexus.

It's not just a couple step process. You have to first install software (drivers) on your Windows computer, make sure that driver is working and communicating with the phone, follow a very specific series of steps, figure out which ROM works with your particular carrier version of the phone, figure out which ROM has the features and performance you want (and everyone has their own opinion about which is best), back up your data, reinstall apps, etc.

Sure, once I did it once, it was cake the second time. And once I knew exactly where to look, you can find software tools that will run you through all the steps. But those tools are not available for every model, and they're not very easy to find. Do a Google search for your phone model and "custom ROM" and you'll get a million results, half of them the exact same articles posted on different sites and forums.

I would never recommend installing a custom ROM to any but my most techie friends. But is it worth all the trouble? Hell yes! It's just not as easy as some make it out to be.

Once your nexus is rooted and you dont feel like doing it manually, you can install Cyanogen Mod through Rom manger in about 3 clicks. Just click download Rom, it downloads, then click install...that simple. EVen manually you just search their website and download the one for your phone. The process at least for a nexus device is really simple. Ive never had to any of that stuff you described on my nexus device to install a custom rom.

Florence Ion / Florence was a former Reviews Editor at Ars, with a focus on Android, gadgets, and essential gear. She received a degree in journalism from San Francisco State University and lives in the Bay Area.